Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
LMT vs UPS
Lockheed Martin Corporation versus United Parcel Service, Inc. — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
LMT wins 4–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but UPS can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
LMT wins this comparison 4–1 across 6 dimensions. LMT yields 2.45% — lower than UPS's 6.53% — and carries a 8.3/10 dividend safety score (Strong) vs 3.6/10 for UPS (Weak). LMT wins 4–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but UPS can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
On yield alone, UPS generates 6.53% vs 2.45% — a 4.08% difference that translates to $4,080 more per year on a $100,000 investment. On dividend safety, LMT scores 8.3/10 (Strong) vs 3.6/10 (Weak) for UPS — investors prioritizing income reliability should weight that gap alongside the yield difference.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | LMT | UPS | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 2.45% | 6.53% | UPS wins |
| Dividend safety | 8.3/10 | 3.6/10 | LMT wins |
| Growth trend | -0.18% vs 5y | +2.19% vs 5y | LMT wins |
| Volatility (beta) | 0.11 | 1.04 | LMT wins |
| Scale | $130.1B | $84.4B | LMT wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 4 wins | 1 wins | LMT wins |
Dimension by dimension
UPS wins on yield (6.53% vs 2.45%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $408 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
UPS's higher yield (6.53%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus LMT's 2.45% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
LMT wins on safety (8.3/10 vs 3.6/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. LMT scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
LMT (8.3/10) scores 4.7 points higher than UPS (3.6/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.
LMT shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend
LMT's yield is 0.18% below its 5y average, versus 2.19% for UPS. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
LMT is less volatile (beta 0.11 vs 1.04)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
LMT is 1.5× larger by market cap
Larger companies tend to have tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and lower closure risk.
Both pay qualified-dividend-eligible distributions
Neither is structurally flagged for ordinary-income tax treatment. Most distributions should qualify for the lower long-term capital gains rate if holding-period requirements are met.
How we compare these
Every comparison on this page is computed from current public data, not written by hand. Yield comes from the most recent dividend distribution annualized over current price. Safety scores combine yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size — see our methodology for the exact formula. Tax-efficiency flags identify covered-call ETFs, REITs, and mREITs which distribute primarily as ordinary income.
This is educational, not investment advice.Scores reflect a snapshot of public data on the "as of" dates shown on each ticker's safety page. Verify on the issuer's investor relations page or your brokerage before making decisions.
Frequently asked
Which is better for income, LMT or UPS?
LMT wins 4–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but UPS can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.
LMT vs UPS: which has a higher dividend yield?
LMT yields 2.45% and UPS yields 6.53%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $408 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is LMT or UPS a safer dividend in 2026?
LMT scores 8.3/10 (Strong) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. UPS scores 3.6/10 (Weak). LMT is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, LMT or UPS?
LMT's yield is 0.18% below its 5y average, versus 2.19% for UPS. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.
LMT vs UPS: which is more tax-efficient?
Neither is structurally flagged for ordinary-income tax treatment. Most distributions should qualify for the lower long-term capital gains rate if holding-period requirements are met.
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